Mariners News: Ichiro Suzuki update, a legitimate option to return to Seattle?

The Seattle Mariners are on the lookout for a left-handed platoon partner for Justin Ruggiano in the outfield, and there's a chance they could consider a very familiar face for that role.

41-year-old Ichiro Suzuki hit .282 for the New York Yankees in 2014 and stands just 156 hits shy of 3,000 for his Major League Baseball career. If the Mariners are willing to facilitate a reunion, the move has a chance at being both cost-effective and a major marketing boost for the 2015 season.

However, as Sodo Mojo's Dan Hughes points out, "the downside is that Ichiro is actually a better hitter against left-handed pitchers than right-handed pitchers. So he wouldn’t make a great platoon partner. But, he still batted over .270 against righties last year, so it is still an improvement."

Would the Mariners be willing to invest significant playing time in Ichiro seeing that he's in his forties? Right now it's all in the realm of speculation, but it's at least something to consider heading into the turn of the calendar.

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